Unitary dual-wrench tool

ABSTRACT

A hand tool including superposed open-end wrenches adapted for ready and effective engagement-at the same time, and in clearance relation to adjacent obstructions-with the lock nut and valve clearance adjustment nut, respectively, of a rocker arm assembly of an overhead cam engine; the tool providing, in unitary combination with the wrenches, hand-manipulated parts by means of which the wrenches are selectively and independently operated from a point a distance thereabove.

Unite States Patent [191 Krupke [1 1 3,731,559 1 May 8,1973

[54] UNITARY DUAL-WRENCH TOOL [76] Inventor: Richard V. Krupke, 17 West 18th Street, Merced, Calif. 95340 [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 212,589

[52] U.S.Cl'. ..81/3F,81/l3,81/57.32 [51] Int. Cl ..B25b 9/00, B25b 13/48 [58] Field of Search ..81/i3,55,3 F,57.32,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,394,027 2/1946 Vlass ..81/55 2,454,027 11/1948 Baeza...... ...8l/55 3,277,749 10/1966 Osburn et a1. ..81/55 X Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker Attorney-Roger B. Webster [57] ABSTRACT A hand tool including superposed open-end wrenches adapted for ready and effective engagement-at the same time, and in clearance relation to adjacent obstructions-with the lock nut and valve clearance adjustment nut, respectively, of a rocker arm assembly of an overhead cam engine; the tool providing, in unitary combination with the wrenches, hand-manipulated parts by means of which the wrenches are selectively and independently operated from a point a distance thereabove.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ENTEDHAY 81973 F/g 5 I UNITARY DUAL-WRENCH TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION On certain overhead cam engines, each rocker arm assembly includes a vertical adjustable stud provided-- one above the other--with a lock nut and a valve clearance adjustment nut, and which nuts are difficult to reach and turn with conventional separate hand wrenches; this problem (which is annoying and timeconsuming) arising for the reason that there are obstructions of one kind or another adjacent the location of such nuts. The present tool was conceived in recognition of such problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, as a major object, a tool which includes-in unitary combination-a pair of superposed, forwardly facing, open-end wrenches corresponding to and adapted to engage, at the same time, with the lock nut and valve clearance adjustment nut,

respectively, of a rocker arm assembly of an overhead a cam engine; the unitary tool embodying-with the wrenches--hand-manipulated parts by means of which the wrenches are selectively and independently operated from a point a distance thereabove.

The present invention provides, as another important object, a unitary hand-manipulated tool, for the purpose described, in which the structural form and arrangement thereof is such that the wrenches can be applied to the lock and valve clearance adjustment nuts of a rocker arm assembly with facility and precision, and without engaging, or being deflected by, obstructions which are frequently present in adjacent relation to such nuts, and which obstructions hinder and make time-consuming the use of separate conventional hand wrenches.

The present invention provides, as a further object, a unitary dual-wrench tool which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

The present invention provides, as a still further object, a practical, reliable, and durable unitary dualwrench tool, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the tool in use. I

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view of the adjustable, spring-retention nut, detached.

FIG. 6 is a view of the rod guide sleeve, detached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the tool comprises a pair of superposed, forwardly facing, openend wrenches; the lower wrench being indicated at 1, and the upper wrench at 2. Such open-end wrenches 1 and 2, which are normally vertically spaced a predetermined distance, correspond to and are adapted to engage, at the same time, with the lock nut 3 and valve clearance adjustment nut 4, respectively, of a rocker arm assembly indicated generally at 5. Such rocker arm assembly 5 includes a vertically adjustable stud 6 threaded downwardly into a boss 7 on the engine block; the lock nut 3 normally being tightened against the boss 7, while the valve clearance adjustment nut 4 (which is an integral part of the stud 6) normally is non-turnable; i.e., not until the lock nut 3 is released.

The vertically adjustable stud 6 has socketed, swivel engagement at its upper end with the rear end of a rocker arm 8 of the assembly 5; such rocker arm being retained in engagement with the upper end of the stud 6 by means of a retention spring 9 which not only overhangs the stud 6 but also has considerable projection in a direction away from the rocker arm 8.

As is conventional, the stud 6 is adjusted up or down, when the lock nut 3 is released, by rotating the nut 4 in one direction or the other; such adjustment of the stud 6, as reflected through the rocker arm 8, adjusting the valve clearance. I

The lower open-end wrench 1 includes-at its rear end, and in rigid integral relation-an upstanding shank 10, while the upper open-end wrench 2 includes--at its rear end, and in rigid integral relation--an upstanding shank l l. The shanks 10 and 1 1 are disposed in parallel but spaced relation, and both lie rearwardly of the rocker arm retention spring 9 when the wrenches 1 and 2 are engaged with the nuts 3 and 4. Thus, such retention spring does not engage nor obstruct either of the shanks 10 or 11.

At its upper end, the shank 10 is formed with a head 12 to which is rigidly attached the rear end of a forwardly projecting, horizontal leverarm 13; such lever arm 13 being formed adjacent but short of the rear end of said arm with a circular enlargement 14 having a central vertical bore 15 which is in vertical axial alinement with the working center of the wrenches 1 and 2. Consequently, when said wrenches l and 2 are engaged with the nuts 3 and 4, respectively, the bore 15 is alined in a vertical direction with the stud 6. I

The shank 11 is provided-at its upper end, and in rigid integral relation-with a forwardly projecting car 16 through which a threaded vertical rod 17 extends at its lower end; there being lock nuts 18 and19 on such rod above and below the ear 16 whereby to secure the parts together.

Above the ear 16, the threaded rod 17 is encompassed by a sleeve 20 vertically adjustably positioned on the rod by an upper nut 21 and a lower nut 22; the sleeve 20 extending through the bore 15 in slidable relation. A compression spring 23 surrounds the sleeve 20 in engagement between the nut 21 and the top of the circular enlargement 14. The nut 21 includes a depending neck 24 which engages in the spring 23 in locating relation.

At its upper end, the rod 17 is formed in rigid integral relation with a forwardly projecting horizontal lever arm 25.

While both the lever arms 13 and 25 project forwardly, the lever arm 13 is-as shown in FIG. 2--offset circumferentially relative to the vertical front-to-rear plane of the tool. Similarlyghe lower open-end wrench 1 has a comparable ofiset in a horizontal plane and in the same direction. Such offsets aid in the manipulation of the tool; the offset of the lever arm 13 permitting it- -for example-to be used close to an obstruction such as the firewall of a vehicle. 7

In use of the herein-described unitary dual-wrench tool, it is first hand-supported in a position with the wrenches l and 2 rearwardly of the nuts 3 and 4; the vertical spacing of such wrenches normally being substantially the spacing between said nuts 3 and 4. Thereafter, the tool is manipulated-by lateral movement of the arms 13 and 25 in one direction or the other-until the wrenches 1 and 2 engage with the nuts 3 and 4, respectively.

Nextly, the lever arm 13 is moved laterally in a direction to rotate the lower wrench 1 to unloosen the nut 3, and thereafter the lever arm 25 is manipulated- -in one direction or the other-to part-circle rotate the stud 6, whereby to accomplish vertical adjustment of the rear end of the rocker arm 8 and consequent adjustment of valve clearance.

By virtue of the fact that both the lever arm 13 and the lever arm 25-when moved laterally-swing about the vertical axis of the rod 17, and also the alined working axis of the wrenches l and 2, it is possible for a very forceful and effective turning movement to be applied- -in one direction or the other-to both the lock nut 3 and valve clearance adjustment nut 4, selectively and independently.

Further, because of the rearward offset of the shanks l and 11, the rocker arm spring 9 is not engaged by, nor does it cause any hindrance of, the intended use of the tool.

Due to the fact that the tool can be applied to the nuts 3 and 4 with facility and precision and used without any hindrance by obstructions, there is a substantial saving in time and effort with respect to the adjustment of each rocker arm assembly 5.

Under certain circumstances, and to further aid in application of the wrenches l and 2 to the nuts 3 and 4, the upper wrench 2 may-as a first stepbe lowered to a position closely adjacent the lower wrench 1. See the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1. With the upper wrench 2 so lowered, both wrenches are moved in the direction of the stud 6; the wrench l first engaging the nut 3 while the wrench 2 then merely surrounds the shank of stud 6.

The above-described lowering of the upper wrench 2 is accomplished by depression of the lever arm 25 against the compression spring 23; such lowering of the lever arm 25 causing downward movement of the rod 17, car 16, and shank 11.

After the lower wrench l is engaged with the nut 3, with the upper wrench 2 merely embracing the shank stud 6, the lever arm 25 and its associated parts are released, whereupon-under the force of the spring 23- said associated parts, including the upper wrench 2, are raised, and until said wrench 2 lies in the horizontal plane of and embraces the nut 4.

In the abovedescribed fashion, it is possible to obtain still easier engagement of the wrenches l and 2 with the respective nuts 3 and 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a unitary dualwrench tool as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the unitary dualwrench tool, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A unitary tool comprising a lower, forwardly facing, open-end wrench and an upper, forwardly facing, open-end wrench, the wrenches being superposed and each having a shank upstanding therefrom, the shanks being disposed in adjacent but spaced relation and offset rearwardly from the vertical axis of the working center of said wrenches, and hand-manipulated parts connecting said shanks and operative to selectively and independently move the same, and the corresponding wrenches, about said axis.

2. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts includes a pair of vertically spaced, forwardly projecting lever arms; one lever arms having operative connection with one shank, and the other lever arm having operative connection with the other shank.

3. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts include one lever arm rigid with and projecting forwardly from the rearmost shank, a vertical rod alined with said axis and having operative connection with the foremost shank, the rod extending upwardly in rotatable relation through said one lever arm, and a second lever arm rigid with the rod and projecting forwardly above said one lever arm.

4. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts include one lever arm rigid with and projecting forwardly from the upper end of the rearmost shank, an ear rigid with and projecting forwardly from the upper end of the foremost shank below said one lever arm, a vertical rod alined with said axis and upstanding in connected relation from the ear, the rod extending upwardly in rotatable relation through said one lever arm, and a second lever arm rigid with the rod and projecting forwardly from the upper end thereof above said one lever arm.

5. A tool, as in claim 4, in which the rod is axially slidable relative to said one lever arm, a stop element on the rod in spaced relation above said one lever arm, and a compression spring about the rod between said one lever arm and the stop element; the spring maintaining the rod, and consequently the upper wrench, raised in a predetermined normal, but downwardly yieldable, position spaced above the lower wrench.

6. A tool, as in claim 5, including a sleeve on the rod, the sleeve extending in slidable relation through said one lever arm, and nuts threaded on the rod and engaging respective ends of said sleeve; the upper one of such nuts being said stop element, and the spring surrounding the sleeve between said one lever arm and said upper nut.

7. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts include, in vertically spaced relation, two forwardly projecting, laterally movable lever arms; the lower lever arm corresponding to and arranged to effect movement of the lower wrench, and the upper lever arm corresponding to and arranged to effect movement of the upper wrench. 

1. A unitary tool comprising a lower, forwardly facing, open-end wrench and an upper, forwardly facing, open-end wrench, the wrenches being superposed and each having a shank upstanding therefrom, the shanks being disposed in adjacent but spaced relation and offset rearwardly from the vertical axis of the working center of said wrenches, and hand-manipulated parts connecting said shanks and operative to selectively and independently move the same, and the corresponding wrenches, about said axis.
 2. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts includes a pair of vertically spaced, forwardly projecting lever arms; one lever arms having operative connection with one shank, and the other lever arm having operative connection with the other shank.
 3. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts include one lever arm rigid with and projecting forwardly from the rearmost shank, a vertical rod alined with said axis and having operative connection with the foremost shank, the rod extending upwardly in rotatable relation through said one lever arm, and a second lever arm rigid with the rod and projecting forwardly above said one lever arm.
 4. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts include one lever arm rigid with and projecting forwardly from the upper end of the rearmost shank, an ear rigid wIth and projecting forwardly from the upper end of the foremost shank below said one lever arm, a vertical rod alined with said axis and upstanding in connected relation from the ear, the rod extending upwardly in rotatable relation through said one lever arm, and a second lever arm rigid with the rod and projecting forwardly from the upper end thereof above said one lever arm.
 5. A tool, as in claim 4, in which the rod is axially slidable relative to said one lever arm, a stop element on the rod in spaced relation above said one lever arm, and a compression spring about the rod between said one lever arm and the stop element; the spring maintaining the rod, and consequently the upper wrench, raised in a predetermined normal, but downwardly yieldable, position spaced above the lower wrench.
 6. A tool, as in claim 5, including a sleeve on the rod, the sleeve extending in slidable relation through said one lever arm, and nuts threaded on the rod and engaging respective ends of said sleeve; the upper one of such nuts being said stop element, and the spring surrounding the sleeve between said one lever arm and said upper nut.
 7. A tool, as in claim 1, in which said hand-manipulated parts include, in vertically spaced relation, two forwardly projecting, laterally movable lever arms; the lower lever arm corresponding to and arranged to effect movement of the lower wrench, and the upper lever arm corresponding to and arranged to effect movement of the upper wrench. 